A jury in Denver reached a verdict on Thursday, finding a ride-share driver guilty of kidnapping women in Colorado and sexually assaulting several of them. John Pastor-Mendoza carried out certain offenses in his vehicle while others took place at his residence.
The incidents occurred from 2018 to 2022 and involved a total of 12 women. He committed sexual assault against two individuals and made attempts to assault seven others. In three of the incidents, there was an abduction, but no attempt at sexual assault occurred.
Authorities revealed that Pastor-Mendoza exploited his ride-share driver system to impersonate the actual driver when women requested rides, ultimately transporting them in his vehicle without their awareness of the deception.
He faced a total of 30 convictions.
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann referred to the crimes as “heinous.” In a prepared statement, she emphasized that the victims’ testimony in Pastor-Mendoza’s trial played a crucial role in securing a conviction. She commended their “courage in coming forward and testifying at trial.”
A hearing to determine the sentence for Pastor-Mendoza is set for March 7.